Two-time Olympic champion Yelena Isinbayeva broke her indoor pole vault world record at the XL Galan meet Thursday, and Dayron Robles won the 60-meter hurdles after Liu Xiang was disqualified for a false start.
Isinbayeva cleared 16 feet, 5¼ on her second attempt at Globe Arena, topping her mark of 16-4¾ set in 2009 at Donetsk, Ukraine.
"This was the real comeback," she said. "This happened because of my dear coach who made me realize that this is my level."
Holly Bleasdale of Britain was second and Yarisley Silva of Cuba third, both clearing 15-5¾.
Isinbayeva hasn't won at a major championship since successfully defending her Olympic gold medal in Beijing four years ago.
She failed to make the podium at the world championships in South Korea, finishing sixth. At the 2009 worlds in Berlin, the Russian failed to win a third consecutive gold after a final in which she failed to clear a single height.
Isinbayeva said she didn't know if this record performance signaled a return to form.
"I just enjoyed myself and the competition and wanted to please my fans," she said. "Of course, I would like set the bar higher."
She said the last time she was this happy was after winning in Beijing when she set the outdoor record of 16-7¼. Asked if she thought anyone could beat her at the indoor worlds in Istanbul next week or the London Olympics, Isinbayeva said: "I think you can answer that question."
Earlier, Robles finished in 7.66 seconds to edge fellow Cuban Orlando Ortega by 0.02. Maksim Lynsha of Belarus was third in 7.73.
Liu, the 2004 Olympic champion, jumped the gun in only the second time the Chinese hurdler has raced Robles since last year's world championships in South Korea.
Liu beat Robles convincingly at the indoor meet at Birmingham, England, on Saturday, winning in 7.41 seconds with the Cuban 0.09 behind.
In the women's high jump, Russian world champion Anna Chicherova won by clearing 6-6¾ on her first attempt. Ebba Jungmark of Sweden was second and Olympic champion Tia Hellebaut of Belgium was third, both at 6-4¼.
Ukrainian world champion Olha Saladuha won the women's triple jump with a leap of 48-6¼. Yargeris Savigne of Cuba was next with 47-5¾ followed by Britain's Yamile Aldama in 47-4½.
In the men's 400, Kirani James of Grenada won in 45.52. He was 0.16 ahead of Chris Brown of the Bahamas, with Johan Wissman of Sweden third in 47.06.
In the women's 60, Mariya Ryemyen ran the fastest time of the season, clocking 7.17. Fellow Ukrainian Olesya Povh was second in 7.20 and Jamaica's Aleen Bailey was third in 7.22.
